Military History

Alfred is listed as being killed in action on 5th April 1918. The 1st/23rd Battalion war diary entries for the period 4th to 6th April are transcribed below.

Martinsart - 4 April 1918 – pm: Battalion relieved 22^nd Battn. C & D Coys front line, A & B Support

Aveluy Wood – 5 April 1918 – 6am: Enemy started to shell our front line until 8.30am when he advanced in small groups against C Coy (2/Lt W.G. Irwin) but were repulsed by Lewis Gun fire. At 9.2am A Coy went forward to reinforce C Coy. At 9.25am S.O.S went up along entire Battalion front.

At 10.30am C Coy’s right flank was forced back – left flank was in the Wood. D Coy on left of front line attacked by overwhelming numbers and surrounded. Survivors state that the Coy met the enemy with rifles and Lewis Guns but were unable to prevent him getting into their rear. Lt H.S. Ewen MC; 2/Lt G.H. Crisp & 2/Lt W.J. Kemp missing. 2/Lt C.J. Strickland killed in action.

At 11.30am enemy had penetrated between our front Coy’s. Owing to heavy M.G. fire from left rear A & C Coys were forced back to communication trench running from Wood to Battn HQ and established communication with 24^th London Regiment on left along the edge of the wood (11.40am)

12.30pm: Major R.H. Tolerton MC (temporarily commanding the Battn) went to Martinsart to arrange counter-attack under 22^nd Bn. About 12.40pm A & C Coys suffered heavy casualties from enfilade Machine Gun fire from direction of W.10.central.

4.15pm: Two Coys 22^nd Bn attacked Aveluy Wood to re-establish original line. The Battn covered the attack with Rifle and Lewis Gun fire. Owing to heavy M.G fire from edge of Wood and absence of artillery support the counter-attack failed. Major Tolerton wounded in the head. Capt Cook, 22^nd Bn, assumed command of 22^nd & 23^rd Battalions who fell back on line of Communication Trench and bank

Battn strength – 5 Officers and 150 O.R.

Aveluy Wood – 6 April 1918: Battn heavily shelled all day. About 6.30pm small parties of the enemy left the Wood opposite our Right Coy and ran is S direction. They were caught in our L.G. fire.